I bought Matrix bio media and was wondering if I should rinse it in tap water before putting it in the filter or do I just put it in the filter?

Click to expand...

Not a bad idea to rinse it because it can come a bit dusty, but I would use treated or old tank water if you have any handy. Tap water would be fine otherwise, but maybe add a drop or two of prime into the tank after putting it in.

I was taught to use water you have drained from the tank and rinse any bio material off in that instead of tap water. So any good organisms are kept alive using tank water whereas they may get killed off with tap water that contains chemicals.

I was taught to use water you have drained from the tank and rinse any bio material off in that instead of tap water. So any good organisms are kept alive using tank water whereas they may get killed off with tap water that contains chemicals.

Click to expand...

This is a very good tip for bio media that's been in the tank, but with brand new media there isn't any bacteria there to harm yet. Using old tank water won't hurt anything, though, and it's not a bad idea to avoid adding more chlorine to your tank if you don't have to. Either way is probably fine. There isn't likely to be a ton of chlorine in the small amount of water that'll cling to the media, and the flow of the filter will flush it out pretty quickly.

How often do I clean my bio balls? I just found out i have them. My husband put my tank together as a gift and after hunting for a frog i found the bio balls. I started my nano qube tank in January (this year-2017) THEY ARE REALLY GUNKY!

I'm a little paranoid, so I prefer to use treated or tank water to rinse new media, so I don't have to worry about it possibly killing off already established bacteria in an old media. If it's a brand new aquarium then obviously it doesn't matter.

Useful Searches

Fishlore.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners
to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties
(.com, .co.uk, .ca etc.) and any other website that may be affiliated with the
Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.

This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.